Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13) — The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the inclusion of Cotabato City in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
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In a unanimous decision on Jan. 10 but only made public on Thursday, the high court’s en banc dismissed a petition questioning the conduct of the 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite as well as the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
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“The Supreme Court ruled that the Commission on Elections complied with the requirements of the law in conducting a plebiscite,” the SC’s Public Information Office said in a statement.
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The court also said the petitioners failed to provide necessary evidence to back allegations of fraud in the rollout of the plebiscite.
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“The mere allegation that the inclusion of Cotabato City in the newly-formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was not the true intention of the voters of Cotabato City will not persuade this Court to overturn the actions of the Commission on Elections,” it added.
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— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) January 12, 2023
